Sponge wringer mop



June 21, 1960 w. E. KAUTENBERG 2,941,226

SPONGE WRINGER MOP Filed Oct. 14, 1954 I INVENTOR: WILLIAM E. KAUTENBERG WWW ATT'Y United States Patent C SPONGE WRINGER MOP William E. Kautenberg, Freeport, Ill., assignor to W. E. Kautenberg Co., Freeport, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 14, 1954, Ser. No. 462,289

12 Claims. (Cl. 15-119) This invention relates to a sponge mop and is more particularly described as a self-wringing mop which has a wringer plate attached at the end of a mopstick and a sponge cleaning unit quickly attachable to and detachable from a small bracket at the end of the mopstick.

In mops of this kind as now commonly used, a complicated and cumbersome cross head is attached to the end of a mopstick or handle by various means, a mop unit is then attached to the head, and the self-wringing portion of the mop either has a built-in feature or an attachment is applied to the cross head and to the cleaning unit in various ways. The self-wringing portion usually includes a double acting hinge by means of which the wringer plate can be swung from an upper position downwardly below the cross head and into contact with the cleaning unit.

In the present invention, all of this cumbersome construction is replaced by a socket fitting the end of a mopstick or handle having a short head plate hinged at the front side to a wringer plate which is movable from a position against the mopstick to a position at the lower side and compressing the sponge of a cleaning unit which is removably attached to the said head plate.

An important object of the invention is to simplify the construction for a self-wringing mop by omitting a large portion of the cross head, by directly attaching a small plate to the end of a mopstick, and by hinging a curved wringer plate directly to the front side of the head plate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for attaching the wringer plate in raised position againstfthe mopstick.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wringer plate engaging spring which is strong, firmly attached to the handle socket and not liable to breakage.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a wringer plate, curved transversely to correspond with the curvature of the sponge portion of the cleaning unit.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning unit having a rigid back fixed to it and substantially at right angles to the front edge of the back, but rounded on the bottom rearwardly from the front edge toward the back edge which is less in height than the back edge and inclines rearwardly from the rear edge of the fixed back.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a wringer mop in accordance with this invention, the wringer plate being shown in partially open position and adapted to be turned in one direction to engage the mop handle, and in the otherdirection to compress the sponge element of the cleaning unit as shown in dash dot lines.

Fig. la is an enlarged detail perspective view showing the mounting structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. Z'is a perspective view of a mopstick socketwith a mopstick.

ice

or sealing position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end of a mopstick to which the socket as shown in Fig. 3 is attached.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified socket member in which the wringer plate retaining spring is mounted at right angles to that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a variation of the mopstick spring and its attachment in which the ends of the spring are turned reversely to fit in narrow slots above and below a larger opening in the mopstick socket; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one end of the cleaning unit showing the shape of the bottom of the cleaning sponge and the means for attaching the unit to the mophead.

In addition to having a wringer directly in'connection with a mop head, it is desirable to provide cleaner units which are easily attached to the mophead and removed therefrom. It is also desirable to facilitate the changing of the units for replacement and repair and since these units are also used for different purposes such as waxing floors, washing walls, shampooing rugs, and other uses in addition to their ordinary use for mopping and cleaning floors so that separate cleaning units may be easily applied to the same mophead for these different uses.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a mopstick-10 is inserted in a mopstick socket 1-2 which has a short head plate 14 at the lower end preferably formed integral therewith and at an angle inclined downwardly from the front of the socket.

The socket is preferably attached to a mopstick by providing a slot 16 extending'lengthwise at the end of the stick. The socket 12 is formed with sides having inwardly turned flanges 18 which are clamped overthe handle with the flanges imbedded in the slot 16 usually by a punch press operation.

Before the handle is applied to the socket, a wringer plate attachment spring 20 is inserted through an opening 22 near the top of the socket 12 and this spring has a rounded outer end and legs with flanges 24 turned outwardly and either curved downwardly as shown in Fig. 2 or' with angular extensions 26 as shown in'Fig. 3. These flanges are compressed into the wood of the handle '10 opposite attachment flanges 18 so that the handle -is clamped more firmly in the socket and the spring 20 is also held more firmly in the socket. I

Instead of having the rounded or looped end of the wringer plate attachment spring with its opening extending transversely of the socket 12, the spring may be inserted at right angles thereto as shown in Fig; 5 so that the loop of the socket opens lengthwise of the socket.

Another method of connecting a wringer plate attachment spring 21 is shown in Fig. 6 in which the spring-has reversely turned flanges 23 adapted to engage in narrow slots relatively above and below the main opening 22 through which the looped portion of the spring is inserted.

These reversely turned flanges will seat the spring firmly in the socket when the mopstick is attached therein.

Attached or formed integral with the head plate 14a in Fig. 5 is a hinge plate 28 having a plurality of hinging fingers 30 for engaging between similar fingers 32 on a ;wh-ich water from a cleaning unit may escape freely; Attached. to the central convex surface of the wringeriplate by spot welding or any other suitable lmeans is a zhollow handle 42 having a rectangular opening 44 near the end produce a more efiicient cleaner.

attachedto the wringer plate which is adapted to receive the "rounded end of the wringer plate attachment spring 20 and to yieldingly holdjthe wringer plate upwardly against the handle asshown in Fig. 1 whenit is pressed in that-direction. The upper edge of the opening 44 is preferably formed with an upwardly curved lip 45 which more "smoothly'engages the rounded or looped end of a wringer plateattachment spring "21 as indicated in Fig. '6. If a separate hingeiplate 46 (as shown in Fig. 1) is supplied in place of the hinge plate 28, it is commonly formed with an embossed or'raised portion 38 to receive the'head plate '14 at the under side ofthe embossed portion, and with a central recess 49 opening from the rear side through fWhich the socket 12 projects. All of these plates 14-, 28 and 46 are provided with spaced perforations 50 by means of which a cleaner unit may be easily attached to the mop head formed by this connection of the wringer plate to the mopstick.

A cleaner unit for use in this wringer mop comprises a sponge unit-52 and a rigid back 54 therefor preferably made of light thin metal such as aluminum having flange edges '56 turned upwardly and crimped into the material of the sponge which is preferably of cellulose or other suitable sponge material. The sponge has a front edge 58 which is substantially at right angles to the top of the sponge and 'its rigid back 54 and the bottom surface 60 of the sponge curves rearwardly and upwardly to the back 62 which flares slightly rearward from the rear edge of the back 54 and is of less height than the front edge of the sponge. The ends of the sponge unit project slightly beyond the ends of the rigid back 54 and these ends 64 flare slightly upward to protect the ends of the back plate '54 from engaging furniture, walls and the like.

In the central portion of each unit are two screws 66 extending outwardly from the fixed back in spaced relation and firmly held by securing to the back plate 54 before it is attached to the sponge material. These screws are inserted through the openings 50 of the mop head and thumb screws are applied to the screws pressing and pulling the back of the cleaning unit tightly into engagement with the underside of the hinge plate 28 (or 46).

- With this construction, the cleaning unit is easily and quickly applied to the mop head and may also be quickly removed therefrom to replace the cleaning units or to substituteone cleaning unit which is used for waxing, for another cleaning unit which may be used for mopping "andwashing. Since the mop with the cleaning unit attached is inclined slightly rearward from the bottom of the cleaning unit, the bottom of the front edge projects forwardly so that it may be applied to openings and to fit -more readily into corners of floors and walls and thus The front edge which is the longest, receives the most wear and the curved edge is shaped to conform to the surface of a floor or wall in the normal operation of the mop at the usual inclination. The greatest thickness of sponge material is thus provided .at' the portions of the sponge which receive the greatest wear and thus giving long life to'the sponge unit.

The curvature of the bottom of the sponge also conforms to curvature of the wringer plate so that when the sponge is wet and filled with liquid, the compression caused by the wringer plate will substantially flatten the sponge against its back'plate 54 with-in the concave portion of the wringer plate, the flange 38 of the wringer plate embracing and compressing the rear side of the sponge against the rear edge of the rigid plate 54.

'rThewringer plate is easily disengaged from the attach ment spring 20 which holds it against the socket -at the front of themopstick and this plate may be swung freely .fromits uppenpositio'n downwardly over the bottom of thesporige ito'i compress .it and to force water from the sponge through the holes 40 in the wringer plate and from the sponge, This may "beaccomp'lished without'wetting zorrsoilingthediands and the'wringerplatereturned toth'e K .normal held-.position.i1 i i It is desirable to provide the curved lip 45 at the upper edge of the opening 44 preferably curved slightly upwardly from the opening. "In making the various parts of the metal pieces, slight variations are likely to be present due to variation in thickness of the metal, the exact bending of parts and the hardness of the metal so that by the time all the metal parts are assembled, the spring 20 (or 21) may not be in exact alignment to give the right tension. By providing the lip 45, it can be'bent relatively upwardly or downwardly a little bit, to secure just the tension needed.

While a preferred construction has been thus described in some detail, it should be'regarded as an illustration or example rather than as a limitation or restriction of the invention, since various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

'1 claim:

1. In a wringer mop, a metal sleeve forming a socket for receiving a mopstick and having a short rigid head plate attached thereto and extending at the front and rear of the socket, a wringer plate, means for hinging one edge at the front ofthe head plate, said wringer plate being curved transversely of its length, a handle attached at one end to the wringer plate and projecting at the outer free and curved portion of the plate having an opening therethrough near the top of the socket when the wringer plate is moved upwardly, the sockethaving an opening therethrough and an attachment spring inserted to project through the opening from the inside of the socket and having an extremity at the outside adapted to engage in said opening of the handle to hold it resiliently in raised position, the attachment spring being looped at the outer end and having oppositely extending legs within the socket turned oppositely from the opening therein to hold the spring in place.

2. Ina mop in accordance with claim 1, the socket having a mopstick clamped therein and the said ends of the attachment spring being pressed into the mopstick when itis inserted in the socket, thereby holding the spring tightly in place for engagement With the handle.

3. In a mop in accordance with claim 2, the mopstick havinga slot at its lower end and the socket being split at the rear with flanges turned'inwardly and compressed into the slot of the handle for holding the handlejtightl in place.

4. In a mop in accordance with claim 3, the attachment spning having flanges at its inner ends, the extremities of which are turned outwardly toward the outer end of the spring, and the socket having slits at opposite ends of the said opening for receiving the bent ends of the flanges of the locking spring therein and held tightly therein when the mopstick is inserted in the socket.

5. In a'mop in accordance with claim 1, the combination with a cleaning unit and means for attaching it to the under side of the head plate and having a sponge member therein extending at a right angle at the front of the hinge plate and curved upwardly toward the rear at the bot-tom from the said front edge, and the wringer is less in height than at the corresponding front edge of the sponge member so that it will not substantially accumulate in thickness at the rear edge when compressed by the wringer plate. a p 1 7.-In a mop in accordance with claim 6, the sponge member flaring slightly'at the rear edge 'andbeyond the ends of the rigid back to substantially flatten at its rear portion when compressed by the wringer plate, and the corresponding lower front edge of the sponge member being slightly less than a right angle in cross section.

8. A wringer mop comprising a mopstick, a socket secured to the lower end of the mopstick and having an opening near the upper end of the socket and a head plate rigidly attached at the bottom of the socket and extending forwardly, rearwardly and laterally therefrom, a spring holder having a looped extremity to extend through the opening in the socket and having oppositely projecting flanges engaged by the mopstick when it is inserted in the socket, a hinge plate projecting beyond the head plate and having projecting hinging fingers at the front edge thereof, a wringer plate having hinging fingers to fit alternately between the fingers of the hinge plate, a pivot connecting the said fingers and spacing the hinge plate and the wringer plate apart, the wringer plate being curved transversely of its length and having a flange extending along the outer edge, a handle attached to the outwardly curved side of the wringer plate having an opening to engage the spring projecting from the socket plate, a cleaning unit comprising a rigid back and a sponge member attached to the back, the back having threaded projections spaced apart near the center thereof to extend on opposite sides of the handle socket, the head plate and the hinge plate having perforations at the sides of the socket through which the threaded projections of the cleaner unit extend, threaded means to engage the upper ends of the threaded projections to attach the cleaning unit to the under side of the hinge plate and the cleaning member being of less height at the rear edge of its supporting back so that the outer flange of the wringer unit will engage over the rear edge of the cleaning member to compress itagainst the fixed back when the wringer plate is rotated to wringing position.

9. In a wringer mop in accordance with claim 1, the opening in the handle having a bendable lip at one edge of the opening for engaging the handle attachment spring, and the lip being bendable relatively toward or away from the spring to produce the desired tension for engaging the spring and holding the handle and the wringer plate in releasable position.

10. In a wringer mop in accordance with claim 9, the bendable lip being curved upwardly from the top edge of the opening relative to the raised position of the handle so that by bending the lip upwardly or downwardly, it

6 will engage the attachment spring with the desired holding tension.

11. In a wringer mop in accordance with claim 1, the means for hinging one edge of the wringer plate comprising a plate hinged at one edge to the wringer plate and having a recess open at one edge of the plate with a surrounding embossed portion within which the head plate is seated, the metal sleeve forming the socket extending upwardly through the recess from within the embossed portion.

12. In a wringer mop, a metal sleeve forming a socket for receiving a mopstick therein, a short rigid head plate attached to the lower end of the metal sleeve, a wringer plate curved transversely of its length having hinging projections at one edge and. a handle projecting at the other edge, a hinging plate with an embossed portion to seat the said head plate therein and with a recess opening from the rear edge through which the socket projects, the wringer plate being pivotally mounted on the hinging plate, the hinging plate having projections for engaging between those of the wringer plate to mount the latter for wringing, a cleaning unit comprising a rigid back and an attached sponge with threaded projections spaced apart and extending from the back, the said other edge of the curved plate adapted to compress the cleaning unit sponge against the rear portion of the back in wringing, the rigid head plate and the hinging plate having perforations through which the threaded projections extend, and removable fastening means to engage the upper ends of the threaded projections for securing the said head plate and the hinging plate to the rigid back of the cleaning unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Canada Aug. 12, 1952 

